Scientists Testing New Drug for Fatty Liver Disease
Scientists Testing New Drug for Fatty Liver Disease – Saint Louis University scientists have come up with a new drug that can help stop the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Accumulation of fat in the liver can lead to scarring and inflammation and liver cancer or liver failure, and according to doctors, nearly 30% of the US population may have fatty livers. There are currently no treatments for fatty liver disease or NASH (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis).
Researchers at SLU developed and tested a drug that suppresses lipogenesis, a key characteristic of NASH, in hopes of stopping its progression. They drug targets a receptor that regulates fat synthesis and transport, and reduces the liver’s ability to produce fat.
Thomas Burris, lead researcher, is hopeful that the drug may lead to more treatment options for NASH. The drug, SR9238, needs further testing in clinical trials.
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